PS4 Vs. Xbox One: Sony Dominates Microsoft In January Console Sales

Take that, Microsoft. The PlayStation 4 outsold the Xbox One in the U.S. during January this year, according to sales data collected by NPD. Media conglomerate Sony says the next-gen PS4 was the best-selling system last month. Though the brand also claims the PlayStation 4 was also the highest-selling console worldwide, actual figures haven’t been released yet. However, Sony Senior Vice President Guy Longworth states that PS4 sales were nearly twice as high as Microsoft's.

The PS4 outsold the Xbox One in January.Photo: Coutesy/Twitter/Sony

The next-gen PS4 is currently out of stock around the world, but fret not: A new supply will be arriving shortly, Sony promised.

“PS4s are generally sold out at all retailers, although regular supply is refreshing the channel,” Sony said during a slide show displayed at a PlayStation media summit on Feb. 10 in Santa Monica, Calif. The brand also stated that it has increased its market share among what it described as “heavy gamers.”

“This is a story of engagement,” said Sony Computer Entertainment head of hardware marketing John Koller during the summit. “When demand outstrips supply, the promise of what’s to come is really critical.”

Koller divulged more PS4 fun facts, such as users playing more than 34 million hours per week and 90 percent of U.S. consoles being connected online. He also revealed that nearly 172 million hours of gameplay has been clocked on PS4s, with more than 48 million shares and 1.7 million hours of online live-streamed gameplay.

The PlayStation 4, which launched in North America on Nov. 15, reportedly sold 1 million units within the first 24 hours of its launch, which led to 2.1 million consoles sold internationally as of early December. One week later, the PS4’s next-gen competitor, Microsoft’s Xbox One, launched in 13 countries on Nov. 22.

Sony President and Group CEO Andrew House revealed that 4.2 million PlayStation 4s had been sold worldwide as of Dec. 28, 2013. House made the announcement at the 2014 International CES in early January. The Japanese electronics brand added that the PS4 was its most successful console launch of all time.